Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-01-08

mirrors, gave perfect image OF his
thoughts. He was never afraid to
as k-nevcr too digniiied to admit
that be did not know. No man had
keener wit OF. kinder humor, He
was not solemn. Solemnity is %
mask worn by ignorance and hypoc
risy-it is the preface, prologue and
index to the cunning or the stupid.
He was naturally in his life and
thought-master Of the story-tellers
art, in illustration apt, in application
perfect, liberal in speech, shocking
Pharisees and prudes, using any
words that wit could disinfect.
He was logican. Logic is the
product of intelligence and sinceri-
ty. It cannot be learned. 1t is a
child OF clear head and good
heart. He was candid, and with
candor often deceived the deceitful.
He had intellect without arrogance,
genius without pride, and religion
without cant-that is to say, with
out bigotry and without deceit
He was an orator--olear, sincere,
natural. He did not pretend. He
did not say what he thought others
thought, but what he thought. If
YOU wish to be sublime you must be
natural-you must keep close to the
grass. You must Thy the Preside
of the heart; above the clouds it is
too cold. You must be simple in
your speech too much polish sug
gests insincerity. The great orator
idealizes the real, transfigures the
common, makes even the inanimate
thrill and throb, fills the gallery of
the Imagination with statues and pic
lures perfect in form and color,
brings to light the gold boarded by
memory-the miser shows the gilt
tering coin to the spendthrift hope
-enriches the brain, ennobles the
heart, and quickens the conscience
Between his lips words bud and
blossom.
If you wish to know the difference
between an orator and an elocution-
ist-between what is felt and what is
said-between what the heart and
brain can do alone-read Lincoln's
wondrous words at Gettysburg, and
then the speech of Edward Everett.
The Grafton of Lincoln can never be
forgotten 1t will live until Ian.
guages are dead and lips are dust
The speech of Everett will never be
read. The elocutionists believe in
the virtue of voice, the sublimity of
syntax, the majesty of long SEN
fences, and the genius of gesture
The orator loves the real the simple,
the natural. He places the thought
above all. He knows that the great
est ideas should be expressed in the
shortest words--that the greatest
statues need the least drapery.
Lincoln was an immense personal
ity-frm but not obstinate Obsti-
macy is egotism-frmness, heroism.
He influenced others without effort,
unconsciously ; and they submitted
to him as men submit to nature, I'M
consciously. He was severe with
himself, and for that reason Tenant
with others. He appeared to apollo
gige for being kinder than his fell
lows. He did merciful things as
stealthily as Others committed
crimes. Almost ashamed of tender
ness, he said and did the noblest
words and deeds with charming con-
fusion--that awardness-that is the
perfect grace of modesty. AS no,
bleman, wishing to pay small debt
to poor neighbor, reluctantly off
ers $100-bill and asks for change,
fearing that he may be suspected
either of making display of wealth
or pretense ofpayment, so Lincoln
hesitated to show his wealth ofgood-
ness, even to the best he knew.
A great man STOPPING, not wishing
TO make his fellows feel that thew